From Dartmouth to Cardiff, One Yes at a Time

By Alexandra Pardy

Hiya, I’m Alex, from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

If you had asked me when I graduated high school whether I’d ever move abroad, I would have laughed… and then cried.

Even leaving Nova Scotia to attend university was difficult. I struggled with anxiety. Change was hard, even when I already knew the place or the people. But little by little, I gained confidence, and after completing my Bachelor of Music at Acadia University, I took another big step and moved to New Brunswick to earn my Bachelor of Education.

That’s where the idea of living abroad first came to me. One evening, while watching Bondi Rescue, I started looking into teaching in Australia. A few months later, after watching Torchwood, I started researching Cardiff instead and I guess Wales just stuck.

The hardest part was worrying about home

Before I left Canada, my dad had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. That was always my biggest fear about moving abroad. What if something happened to my family? Would I be able to get home if I needed to?

For a while, things looked hopeful. His doctors used to joke that he was the healthiest-looking sick person they’d ever seen. Then everything changed. My father passed away in February 2024. During the Easter holidays, I flew home for his funeral.

Afterward, I went back to Wales. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I loved the life I had started building there. Even though it was painful, I knew that’s what my father would have wanted for me.

Knowing almost immediately

Within my first week in Cardiff, I remember thinking: “I’m home.”

Of course, I still had plenty to learn. I had to figure out the trains, the UK school system, find a flatshare, and get used to seeing Welsh everywhere. I remember my surprise at realizing the price on the shelf is actually the price you pay at the till—no tax! (or rather, it’s already included in the price).
I found work. I met people. I explored the Highlands on my own. I learned how to build a life from scratch.

I also got used to seeing Welsh everywhere. Road signs, schools, shops: the language is woven into everyday life, especially in schools. It reminded me of seeing French in New Brunswick. Welsh was almost entirely lost, so people here are incredibly committed to preserving and celebrating their language and culture, and I’ve come to love and embrace both.

Building a life, one friendship at a time

Today, life feels surprisingly ordinary. I go to work, come home, head to the gym, meet friends, and just enjoy the routine.

One of the girls I originally shared a flat with has become my best friend. We’ve spent New Year’s together with her family in Spain, she’s visited Nova Scotia and met my family, and we’ve travelled to places like Glasgow, Ibiza and Marrakech together.

Friends introduced me to other friends. I met people through work, the gym, travelling and my flatmates. When I first moved abroad, I didn’t expect to instantly have a community, and I was okay with that. Looking back, I’m grateful for every person who’s become part of my life, whether for a short time or a long one.

If you’re afraid of going alone…

People often worry they’ll feel lonely if they move abroad by themselves. I understand that feeling. But here’s what I’ve learned:

You will find your people.

There are always people willing to help and home is always just a phone call away. Sometimes all it takes is saying yes to a new opportunity, joining a new activity, or introducing yourself to someone you don’t know yet.

The community comes. Maybe not immediately, but it does come.

Looking ahead

My Youth Mobility Visa has opened doors I never imagined. I’m exploring ways to stay in Wales longer, through a student visa or a skilled worker visa.

My plan? Earn my master’s degree, find a permanent teaching position, write more, travel more, and keep saying yes to whatever comes next.

Because while Dartmouth will always be where I come from… Cardiff has become home.